Rotary measuring device



. MELLEY ROTARY MEASURING DEVICE C3 SheeJts-Sheet l dum Filed Deo.

Jem., 3H, W5@ c:` H. KELLEY 2,495,974

ROTARY MEASURING DEVICE Filed Dec. 29, l948 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jim1., 3L W5@ c. H. `MELLEY ROTARY MEASURING DEVICE 3 Sheets-Sheet 'o' Filed Dec. 29, 1.945

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www@ M J@ Patented Jan. 31," 1950 fuNiTEDA fsrATEs PATENT orties 2,495,974 ROTARY MEASURING DEVICEv Clifford H.Ke11ey, Chattanooga, Tenn. 4 Aspiration December 29, 194s, serial No. 68,003 s claims. (C1. s3- 1415 I invention relates to rotary measuring devices and more particularly to such devices that 'are used for the measurement of circumferences,

linear distances, angles and elevations.

' VIt Vis the primary object of this invention to provide a linear rule, and a circumference rule thatincorporates an audible indicating system that may be selectively used with either rule. It is a distinct; advantage to have an audible signal indicate certain specified increments of distance so that the user does not constantly have to watch the indicating dial, but may concentrate on obtaining an accurate measurement.

Another object of this invention is tocooperatively combine alinear rule, a circumference rule,

a level, an angle, and a square in one compact tool for use by engineers, carpenters, layout men, sheet metal workers, draftsmen, and men of other arts and trades.

' A further object of this invention is to provide a linear rule for simple and accurate measurement of linear dimensions of great distance and of a surface regardlessof contour.

H It is also an object of this invention to provide a measuring device that may be used by one man to perform the maximum number of 4operations with the one instrument.

Qther objects of novel features of `construction and combination of parts will be hereinafter described in the specification and then claimed, having the above and other objects in view.

f.- These` objects are accomplished by the provision of a rotary rule combining a level, a square, a; 45 angle and two rotatable measuring rule wheels whichfselectively cooperate with an audible indicating system. A liquid level is mounted in the top-of the frame of said device for determining the horizontal. On side of the device is made perpendicular to the base for determining a right angle or perpendicular while the other side is madeat a 45t-angle with base for-determining said angle. The device does not have to be limited to the square but may be made to include any desired combination of angles. Two rotatable wheels are provided. One rotatable wheel, which will hereinafter be referred to as the circumference rule, is used for laying off a circumference o f a desired diameter pipe or duct-on a Vflat sheet or surface. The circumference 'rule which accomplishes this measurement, measures the circumference required for a desired diameter. Thus, if a one inch diameter pipe is desired, the rule will measure o 3.1416 inches Yon flat sheet material. Even though the circumference is accurately measured on the surfaca, the indicating dial'is marked off in' equal increments of diameter. The device may also be used to determine the outside diameter of a pipe. This is accomplished by aligning the starting point on the pipe With the reference line on the device, and then rolling the device about the circumference of the pipe. The other rotatable wheel, which will hereinafter be referred to as the linear rule, is used primarily for the measurement of linear dimensions. Interconnected with each of said rotatable wheels is an audible indicating system for indication of specified increments ofrmeasurement. A control button or thumb screw'is provided 'so that the audible indicating system may be selectively connected to either of the rotatable rules depending on the type of measurement desired.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate asuitable embodiment of the present invention and in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several different views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device.

Figure 3 is an end elevation thereof.

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse section of Figure 1 on the line 4-4 thereof.

Figure' lis an enlarged face view of the cir cumierence rule measuring wheel viewed from the left side.`

Figure 6 is` a similar of Figurel 4.

Figure 'l is an enlarged transverse seetin lof Figure 1 on the line 1 1 thereof.A Figure 8 is an enlarged face view of the linear rule measuring wheel viewed from the left side.

Figure 9 is a similar view from the right side of Figure 7.

Figure 10 is a developed layout of the casing blank reduced in size.

Figures 11 to 14 areenlarged detailed sections on the respective Vlines indicated Ain Figure 10.

' Figures 1 5 `and'lt1 are enlarged sectional detailed views of the striker plate or movable bracket', and

` Figures 1'7 and 18 are enlarged face and crosssec'tion views respectively of thefmovable bracket member. l

`vReferring lnow to the accompanying drawings and in particular toFigure l, the rotary measuring rule there shown,V as described above, consists of a frame `l in which is mounted the circumference rule rotatable wheel 3 and the linear rule rotatable wheel 5. The frame i also has mounted thereon a level 1 which maybe usedto determine a horizontal or vertical. The rotatable wheels 3 and 5, respectively, are journalled View from mangia sal .rotatable wheel 5, respectively.

at bearing surfaces 23 and 25 in such a manner that a plane tangent to each of said wheels will be parallel to a plane passing through the horizontal formed by the level 1. This allows the rotatable measuring rules to be used in combination with the level. A right angle is formed between the end section 9 and the base II, while a 45 angle is formed between the end section I3 and the base II. The angles made between the base and the two end sections need not be vthose mentioned, but may be any desired combination angles such as 30 and 60. Cooperating with either of the rotatable wheels by means of a movable bracket i6 actuated by the thumb screw 36 is an audible indicating system 32 for indication of specified increments of measurement. The operation and construction of theaudible indicating system will hereinafter be described in detail as well as other embodiments of the device.

The frame I is preferably formed out of sheet material from a pattern .as shown `in Figure .10..

Arcuate slot-s are provided-:at I5. and i] `for visual indication of the scale of the 4circumference rotatable wheel 3, and at I9 and 2l :for viewing the :scale of the linearrotatable wheel 5.. Bear- .ing surfaces 23 and 25 (Fig. .1) `are adapted for mounting the spindles 2 and 29 that carry the inner races of the bearings 3l and 33 of the cir'.A cumference rule rotatable wheel 3 and the linear Upon the section 34 forming the top vof the frame I, :an indentation 35 is made for mounting the level and another indentation 3'! withan elongated slot 39 is made for mounting the thumb screw A3.6.

Although the frame I is fabricated from a single sheet of material by a pattern .as described above and shown .in Fig. l0, it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention by this preferred method of fabrication.

The circumference rule lrotatable wheel 3 consists of a sleeve 2 to which is mounted perpendicularly and at either end of the sleeve, .disk faces 6 and 8 each carrying the indicating scale for viewing through the arcuate slots I5 and 'I'I. Separating the discs 3 and 8 and suitably located. about the disks are five `striker pinsjII]` that contact the arm I2 of the movable bracket I6 .when the thumb screw is in the position A. .In marking the scales around the circumference `of the disc E (Fig. 5), the reference points I to 5 must be so located that they coincide with the index point 58 on the frame I when `the :bell lirings. Therefore,the reference points will not be located on the same radii as the stri-ker pins, but each point will be located slightly behind its respective striker pin. As shown in Fig. 5, ananbitrary angle of 40 is used between the striker pin and the reference point to give .the Vdesired results. However, this angle may vary depending upon the construction of the audible indicating system.

In like manner, the linear rule rotatable wheel 5 is fabricated and mounted. It differs only in that it is smaller in diameter and has `only one striker .pin Irseparating the discs 22 and 2li. Since there is only one striker pin separating the discs 22 and 24, braces 26 which will not contact the arm 20 are mounted between the two discs to .give the assembly rigidity.

The rotatable wheels 3 .and 5 will only operate when rotating in a clockwise direction. Therefore, itis preferred to provide an indicati-ng scale (Figs. 5, A6, 8 and 9) on either side on the wheel assemblies so .as to increase the usefulness of the instrument. indicating .scales 23 and 30 .for the circumference rule 3 are calibrated so that .ment is desired.

4 the bell I4 will ring for each inch of diameter. In this embodiment, it is accomplished by taking a five inch diameter disc and dividing its circumference into five equal parts, these parts thus being the reference points referred to above. Suitable graduations are scribed between each reference point, giving any desired degree of measurement. The indicating scales for the linear rule are calibrated so that the bell I4 will ring fora-each twelve-inch vlinear distance This is accomplished by providing the wheel assembly with one striker pin and making the discs 22 and *214, 3.819 inches in diameter, thus giving the said discs a twelve inch circumference. A scale is then made on d iscs 22 and 24 by dividing the circumference into inches and any smaller gradua- .tions desired. .It isnot meant to limit the scope of the invention by describing the detailed construction of the rotatable wheels, as it is easily seen where other size wheels with different scales and number-:ofv striker pins may be employed.

As previously stated, the. device contains om audible indicatingssystem .32 for .indication nf specified increments fof measurement.. This s575- tem is interconnected with each -rotataole wheel, .and may be selectively .brought into engagement with either wheel Idepending on what measure The audible indicatingsystem `32 consists of a bell i4 which is engaged by clapper .3S rigidly mounted on the movable :bnacleet .I6 lthat is actuated when `either lof its arms l2 or 2U engage the striker pins :Ill or 'I8 respectively. The movable .bracket L6 .is .incide .of Ispring steel yor the dike. ,It consists @f .,a single piece .of material with the arm .I2 'punched out :of theiiat .body :section 40. `Slots .42 and 44 .areprovided for rigidly mounting the zclanper 3B. vSides A6 :and 48 .are provided to .give rigidity 'to thehracket and also to provide a means of securing itito the lpivot block :54 `on'wlfiich is 'mounted Athe @thumb screw 3S. The pivot block $4 :is `provided olii-,h a tapv 5.2 for :receiving :thethumbscrew Aand Chollos 5d are drilled in :the wal-ls :of .the .block :for seaux ving vthe movable bracket. rIfhe movable :bracket i5 and the pivot block are :secured together iby means of a .pin 52,.'ibolt or other means of fastening. Mounted around the B2 is :a coi-lspriing 56 .having :oneend engaging :the wall of the :pivot block .64 and :the .other end .engaging the r-flait body sectionl 40 .of .the ymovable bracket 16. spring 'gives resiliency-'to the movable bracket.

In operating. .the measuring device, the level right `angle and 45 .angie .are used --i-n a normail ina-nner .to .make Afthe 'fdesiredmeasurements If it lis .desired to lay off a .piece of sheet `material-1 to give a certain ydiameter pipe, or if it' is desired to obtain the outside diameter of a -piece offpipe or the flike, the thumb screw 36 is first `set -to position A. Then the zeroon 'the scale .of fthe circumference rule is set-'adjacent to the index point 53 .and a corresponding-index point 6U ,is placed .adjacent to -the `.reference or starting point on the material. 'The frule is then rolled to fob# tain the desired measurement. Vllor each inch in diameter the striker pins lil) will contact lthea-rm I2 of .the V.bracket 116, and 'in turn raise the clapper 38 off the bell i4. As the pin passes the arm l2, :the spring 56 |will cause the bracket to move downward and .the clapper which is rigidly mounted to the movable v:bracket will strike the bell .giving anaudible indication-'of measurement. If it is desired to make a linear dimensionthe thumb `screw 36 .is set Yto the position B, then the zero. on .the scale of the Ylinear rule is set adjacent 'to the :index point 4| on the frame and a corresponding index point 43 is placed adjacent to the reference point or starting point of the distance to be measured. The rule is then rolled, and for each revolution of the linear wheel, the striker pin l 8 will contact the arm 20 and in turn move the clapper away from the bell. After the pin I8 passes the arm 20, the movable bracket is returned by the spring and the bell is rung .giving an indication.

placed along the base of the frame A scale 45 is pro-vided to increase the serviceabilty of the instrument. It may be used in combination with the linear rule when it is desired to measure a distance where the index point 43 cannot be placed next to the starting point. For instance, for measuring the dimension of a room having a wall, the scale 45 may be used in conjunction with the linear rule to obtain the desired door dimensions.

While the invention has been described and illustrated fully in a preferred form of construction, it is easily seen that this invention is capable of variation and modcation without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is, therefore, desired that the invention not be limited to the precise details as set forth, but rather to such variation and modification as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A measuring device substantially of the character described comprising a frame having two rotatable measuring wheels journaled therein on spaced parallel axes, and an audible indicating system for indicating increments of measurement, said audible indicating system consisting of actuating means responsive to the rotation of either of said rotatable measuring wheels and slidable operating means for bringing said actuating means into alternate operative engagement with either of said rotatable measuring wheels; said actuating means consisting of striker pins mounted on each of said wheels, a bracket pivotally mounted to said slidable operating means and having two legs extending therefrom for re- .mounted on said frame for locking said system in an operative position with either wheel, and a pivot block rigidly secured to said thumb screw but pivotally connected to said bracket.

2. A measuring device as set forth in claim l having said rotatable measuring wheels of different diameters for determining different specie ed increments of measurement, the larger of said rotatable measuring wheels comprising two indicating discs mounted on a hub journaled in said frame, and striker pins attached to and separating said discs; the smaller of said rotatable measuring wheels comprising two indicating' discs mounted on a hub and journaled in said frame, and having one striker pin and a brace member attached to and separating said discs.

3. A measuring device as set forth in claim 2 having the indicating discs of said larger rotatable measuring wheel calibrated for measurement of diameters, and the indicating discs: of said smaller rotatable measuring wheel calibrated for linear measurement.

CLIFFORD H. KELLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are le of this patent:

of record in the 

